Fire-escape.



Patented Dec. l9, I899.

J. SPALDING.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed May 26, 1899.)

(No Model.)

JOHN SPALDING, OF ILSE, COLORADO.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,455, dated December19, 1899. Application filed May 26, 1899. $erial No. 718,356. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN SPALDING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ilse, in the county of Custer and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful Im provements in Fire-Escapes, of whichthe following is a full and complete specification, such as will enablethose skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to fire-escapes; and the object thereof is toprovide an apparatus of this class whereby persons and articles may besafely and rapidly lowered from buildings.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of whichthe accompanying drawings form a part, in which like referencecharacters denote like parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1is a front elevation of a fire-escape constructed according to myinvention; Fig. 2, a vertical section upon the line 2 2 thereof, andFig. 3 a view of a detail of construction.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I provide a frameconsisting of side bars a and upper and lower crossbars, respectively, band c. The upper end of each of the side bars a is provided with anearcl, adapted for attachment to a side of a window-frame or to thewalls of a building, and the lower ends thereof are formed into feet 6,which are adapted to be secured to a window-sill, floor, or othersupport by staples or other fastening devices.

Journaled in the side bars a, between the cross-bars Z2 and c, is aspindlef, and revolubly mounted thereon is a roller 9, provided ateither side of the center thereof with a drum,

respectively, h and j, formed between inner end flanges 7c and outer endflanges Z.

Between the flanges 7c is formed an annular recess 'm, and the flanges lare so formed upon the roller as to leave unobstructed end portions n,the purpose of which is hereinafter described.

A brake-frame consisting of side bars 0 and a cross-bar p is pivotallysecured to the roller gby means of collars q,integral with or formedupon one end of the side bars 0, and the collars q are respectivelyrevolubly mounted upon the end portions 12 of the rollers g, whichportions operate as brake-bearin gs in connection with said collars. Theside bars 0 normally rest in contact with the cross-bar c, and the lowerends thereof are outwardly and downwardly bent.

Revolubly mounted upon the cross-bar p, beneath each of the drums h andj, is a pulley r, the cross-bar 19 being annularly recessed to preventlongitudinal movement thereof.

An S-shaped supplemental brake-bar s, of spring metal, engages with oneof its loops 6 the annular recess m in. the collar 9 and with the otherloop 41 the cross-bar p of the brake-frame, and the loop t is providedwith a downwardly-projecting arm to, upon which pressure may be exertedto brake the roller g.

Ropes 0t and y are adapted to be respectively secured at one end to thedrums h and j, and in the operation of the device baskets or otherreceptacles may be suspended from said ropes, which pass over therollers r, and when a person or article is placed in the basket the ropehaving been previously wound upon the drum to which it is connected andallowed to descend pressure will be applied to the brake-frame 0 p andupon the brakebearings 02, operating to retard the revolution of theroller g, and consequently the descent of the basket or otherreceptacle.

If the ropes x and y be oppositely wound upon the roller 9, as shown,the unwinding of one thereof will be synchronous with the winding of theother, and the device may be readily and effectively operated.

By proper relative adjustment of the brakeframe 0 p, the brake-heads n,and the crossbar 0 the braking pressure of the collars q may beregulated so that the speed of descent of articles sccu red to the ropes0c and 1 may be accurately predetermined, and it is evident that thegreater the weight sustained by said ropes the greater theconsequentfriction of the collars q and brake-heads n, so that thebraking potential thereof will be in propor tion to the weight of thedescending body and an even speed thereof at all times maintained. As afurther security, however, the supplemental brake-rod s is provided, anda person stationed at hand may apply pressure to the arm 10 thereof andapply friction to the roller g, further braking the same.

It is evident that the principle embodied in my invention may be furtherand varyingly exemplified; but the form above described is found to bethe most advantageous and preferable in the present state of the art.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. The herein-described apparatus, comprising aframe, a roller revolubly mounted therein, a brake-frame frictionallysupported by said roller and adapted to operate in connection with saidframe and said roller, and a rope secured to said roller and adapted tooperate in connection with said brake-frame, substantially as shown anddescribed.

2. The herein-described apparatus, comprising a frame provided with across-bar, a roller revolubly mounted therein, abrakeframe provided withcollars by which it is suspended from said roller and operating inconnection with said cross-bar, and a rope secured to said roller andadapted to operate in connection with said brake-frame, substantially asshown and described.

3. The herein-described apparatus, comprising a frame, a rollerrevolubly mounted in said frame, said frame being provided with across-bar beneath said roller, a brake-frame provided with collars whichengage said roller and operate as brakes in connection therewith, a ropesecured to said roller, a pulley mounted upon said cross-bar and inconnection with which said rope operates, and a brake-bar connected withsaid brake-frame and operating in connection with said roller,substantially as shown and described.

4:. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame consisting of sidebars and an upper and a lower cross-bar, a roller journaled in said sidebars between said cross-bars, and provided with two drums upon each ofwhich a rope is adapted to be wound, a brake-frame connected with saidroller, and a brake-bar consisting of an S-shaped bar of spring metal,one loop of which engages said brake-frame and the other loop of whichengages said roller between said drums, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame, a roller journaledtherein, a brakeframe frictionally supported by said roller, and anS-shaped brake-bar one loop of which engages said brake-frame and theother loop of which engages said roller, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of May,1899.

JOHN SIALDING. Witnesses:

ELIJAH SANDow, WILLIAM Bmcos.

